Lithium News

According to Axios, technology giants like Samsung and Dyson have collectively invested $65 million in Massachusetts-based Ionic Materials. This enormous vote of confidence is a bit shocking, as most people probably haven’t even heard of the small company before. But if Ionic Materials delivers on its recent claims, the investment will certainly pay off. It claims to be close to creating a safe, working solid-state battery.

The company, established in 1986, seems to be making unique progress in solid-state technology. It has created a brand new material — a liquid crystal polymer — that could solve many of the pressing issues that prevent this type of battery from entering the market.

So far, Ionic Materials’ researchers have claimed three major breakthroughs. First, they assert that lithium ions move as fast or even faster through their polymer than they would through a conventional liquid electrolyte system. This seems counter-intuitive since the polymer is a solid, but if it is true, this would clear a huge hurtle to creating working solid-state batteries.

Second, they say that their material works at an impressive five volts and can be made simply and cheaply. Third, they’ve stated that, while most materials in solid-state research operate at about 60° C (140° F), their material works under much cooler conditions — room temperature.

SOLID STATE

Ionic Materials seems to have a leg up on competitors with its unique, cheap, and simple-to-produce material. But, if they are correct in their assertions, why would a solid-state battery be so groundbreaking?

They are safer than current batteries, for one thing. Lithium-ion batteries are flammable and prone to overheating and combustion. Solid-state batteries, on the other hand, preserve lithium in a non-flammable state.

Solid-state batteries are also able to be smaller, cheaper to make, and higher capacity than liquid-based batteries. They could potentially charge faster, last longer, and have better overall performance. They could even make better smartphones and electric cars possible.

The main challenge to realizing solid-state batteries has been discovering a material with all of the right properties. If Ionic Materials is right and their polymer is the one to beat, we could be closer to solid-state batteries than ever before. Still, the company has not released much data on their technology, so many experts remain skeptical of how close the researchers actually are to a working product, according to Axios.

 

With their SUV sales on a roll, it’s no surprise that Jaguar would come to market with an all-battery electric vehicle (BEV) to satisfy the demands of buyers who want an upscale SUV alternative to a Tesla. Range is probably the first question on any BEV buyer’s mind, and here, the I-Pace clocks in at 240 miles, a respectable distance for a two-way day trip.

The battery produces 90 kWh of juice from lithium-ion cells and, plugged into a 50 kW DC rapid charger, replenishes 80 percent of its charge within 85 minutes. Drive power comes from two motors—one at each end—that together make 394 hp and an impressive 512 ft lbs of no-noise torque. The silent onslaught of torque—which, as with all electric motors, is available from 0 rpm—shoots the I-Pace to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. All-wheel drive and a low center of gravity allow Jag’s 4,784-pound SUV to exhibit respectable handling characteristics, while a passenger capacity of five and a payload capacity of 51 cubic feet (with rear seats folded) make the I-Pace a utilitarian workhorse as well.

The exterior is well-proportioned and balanced, remarkably so for an SUV, and incorporates the signature grille that makes it unmistakably a Jaguar. LED head- and tail lights and flush door handles eliminate visual distraction and emphasize the sleek shape, which is made even more aerodynamically efficient through Jaguar’s Active Air Suspension that lowers the I-Pace at speed and raises it for added off-road ground clearance. An optional Adaptive Dynamics system uses continuously variable dampers to adjust suspension settings.

Inside, it’s Jaguar business as usual, with stitched leathers and premium trims, an infotainment display, and an optional Meridian 15-speaker surround sound system. And, naturally, the I-Pace is a rolling computer, with connectivity and driver assistance systems made possible by exponential tech advances.

Three models are available: I-Pace S, SE, and a full-house HSE edition. The latter features 20-inch wheels and other functional and interior enhancements. Sporty options include 22-inch wheels, Performance Seats and carbon-fiber trim. The exterior color palette is limited to three versions of black, and two each of gray, silver, white, and red, along with one shade of blue available. Interior colors are more inventive, and with judicious specification, one can configure a refined BEV SUV well worthy of the Jaguar name.

As far as private mode of transport is concerned, we’ve moved miles from the times of horse-driven cots (picture exuberant carriages in a Jane Austenian setting) to motor driven cars. Automobiles have been changing the way we travel globally since the 20^th century and with it, the internal combustion (IC) engines which drive them. The realm of private transport took a significant turn from the time when travelling at one’s whim was a luxury to the time when there are almost as many cars on the road as there are people who dream of owning one.

A pronounced shift

While the IC engines have been driving people around since the last century, it is time for yet another shift in the way people commute. Slowly but eventually, diesel and petrol run engines are giving way to electric ones. With reducing costs of lithium-ion batteries, companies have recognised the market potential and have already started manufacturing electric and hybrid vehicles. In the recent Auto Expo, companies like Tesla, Nissan, Hyundai, Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet, Honda, and Fiat all showcased their latest electric-run models.

While what some people like to call ‘perfectly re-chargeable’ lithium-ion batteries as a substitute in cars has gained much popularity, and rightly so, they are light and have low maintenance requirements, and are re-usable. Where hybrid vehicles partly run on batteries and partly on fuel, electric cars run entirely on batteries. With the reduction in prices of lithium-ion batteries, and with companies like Tesla Motors dedicated to developing technologically efficient and comfort-centric models, the shift from traditional IC engines towards electric and hybrid ones has started already.

What does the future dictate?

With more and more participants joining the ever-increasing list of electric-only countries, the recent splurge in the popularity of electric cars looks like it is here to say, and for good. With road vehicles contributing to the majority of carbon emissions and subsequent air pollution, there seems to be no relevant question as to why the next switch to what cars we drive should not be made.

The future of automobiles is bound to change significantly. Not only are we looking at cars which would operate on battery alone, but we’re also looking at technological advancements that would make road travel much more comfortable and safe. According to Association for Safe and International Road Travel, about 1.3 million people die of road accidents in a year, which is approximated to 3,827 deaths per day. Hotshot car manufacturing companies are now planning to develop cars which are not only self-driven but are also safer on the road, and with no space for human errors, we could also be looking at a road-accident-free future.

Then again, self-driven cars could bring yet another shift in how people use private modes of transport. With readily available commercial vehicles, and with manufacturers aiming towards comfort over extravagance, could one also assume that ‘a car’ would cease to become a mark of luxury? But when IC engine run cars are still dominating the Indian market and majority of its roads, we can for now save this question for later.

India moves in this direction

Following the trend, India is also showing an interest in the hybrid and electric vehicle market. In 2013, India launched the ‘National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020’ which aims to achieve national fuel security by promoting hybrid and electric vehicle sales in the country. The policy also aspires to reach an annual sales figure of around 6-7 million for electric and hybrid vehicles from 2020 onwards. With Indian car manufacturers and transport provider companies like Ola working to make electric cars more common in the next decades, India seems to be working on its commitment to Paris Agreement of making a significant shift to electric vehicles by 2030.

We are already seeing a wide range of options in electric and hybrid automobiles in the Indian markets, where manufacturers like Tata and Mahindra have launched their models of fully electric cars. In contrast, fully hybrid cars offer more choice with Toyota, BMW, Mahindra, and Maruti being the chief players. However, when it comes to Indian roads, the new wave of ‘green transport’ is surely not reserved for cars alone. Battery run engines have overtaken IC engines across all varieties with bikes and scooters topping the list, TVS, BSA, Hero Motocorp being some of the key players. Not limited to private transport, we are also looking at electric buses, pickup trucks, and rickshaws, with the first electric bus being launched back in 2014.

Policy and developmental prescriptions

With such a noticeable rise in the change towards hybrid and electric vehicles, the GST Council took manufacturers with a surprise when it set a tax rate of 12% for electric vehicles as opposed to that of 28% for hybrid ones. Such a drastic disparity has left manufacturers confused and much chagrined, as the demand for hybrid cars fell significantly from September 2017. One could explain this by assuming that this aims at promoting more electric vehicle sales, that active steps have been taken to push consumers towards making a greener choice.

Policies and GST notwithstanding, India still needs to go a long way to secure feasibility of electric vehicles, with the most obvious point of action being to deal with the lack of infrastructure. If at one end it promotes the purchase of electric cars through schemes like FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) which grants incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles, at the other end it also needs to provide relevant infrastructure to support the same. While the government is releasing tenders to increase charging stations in the country, it is still underdeveloped.

With Auto Expo 2018 majorly showcasing hybrid and e-cars, 50 of which would be accessible to Indian consumers over the course of next few years and with manufacturing companies intent on on launching more varieties of the same in the Indian markets, the government of India has a lot to catch up to if it wants to keep up. The Indian consumer mindset has already begun to shift towards electric and hybrid vehicles, with more people registering for the same. Needless to say, a revision of GST rate on hybrid vehicles is called for, as we are still underequipped with the necessary infrastructure to make fully electric cars feasible. The world is moving fast towards a greener future, are we that far behind?